Physical and Chemical Parameters


The parameters of the analysis of the Long Island site 3A followed the guidelines set by GA-Adopt-A-Stream (AAS). Each site followed the exact criterion, allowing for data to be used in a comparison study. Each site followed AAS protocol and tested the physical both air and water temperatures, relative humidity, and water conductivity. Chemical data includes pH, dissolved oxygen (mg/L), Nitrate-Nitrogen (mg/L), and Phosphate (mg/L). The vast majority of the testing was performed on site, in order to prevent data from being tainted or skewed. Thermometers were used to examine air and water temperatures.Chemical testing was used to verify the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of the specific stream site, as well as the conductivity, pH, and relative humidity. A water sample was obtained from the watershed sites at midstream, mid-depth to ensure accurate data reading. Coliform, which was incubated for 24 hours as well as, Nitrate-Nitrogen (mg/L) and Phosphate (mg/L) were all tested in a controlled laboratory.




Data Collected
Long Isand site 3A was surveyed on three separate occasions. The watershed was examined on a weekly basis for three weeks and all samples were extracted in late morning and early afternoon hours of the day. The samples collected were kept on ice in a dark location or tested on site depending on the test conducted which was done to prevent contamination of the results. The pH level remained stable never deviating under or over the value of 6.
LongIsland3aPH.jpg

The average conductivity level was 100 us/cm, which remains within the 0 to 1500 us/cm levels of rivers in Georgia and within the 50 to 500 us/cm range of inland "streams supporting mixed fisheries". Nitrate and and Phosphate were carried out in the lab after every water collection and as the table below demonstrates, neither nutrients were present at Marsh Creek site 5.

LongIsland3aconduct.jpg
Site 3A showed no evidence of having contaminance from phosphate or nitrate which is a positive finding when related to the health of the stream. Phosphate and Nitrate are directly connected to fertilizer which is directly related to fish kills and creating an inbalance in the stream system.
LI3aNandP.jpg

Long Island site 3A Relative Humidity and Air temperature are shown on the chart below. June 12th, the initial start date of the data collection had a substantially higher Relatively humidity, which is most probably attributed to the heavy rain the day prior to the survey being conducted. There was very little variance in the temperature change staying with an mean average of 26.67 degrees Celcius as indicated in the chart.
li3brh.jpg

Water temperature and dissolved oxygen results can be observed in the chart below. Water temperature remaiined extremly consistent and dissolved oxygen averaged at 6.05 ppm, which ranged at a healthy level to support most aquatic organisms (GA-AAS Complete Manual). Click on the link below for the overall results of the Watershed Assessment and Analysis 2012.

LI3awater and do.jpg

While the chart below for the average dissolved oxygen gives the illusion of a significant difference between the days, that is not necessarily correct. The values present are all in safe and acceptable ranges expected for a watershed in this area and are all very similar values.
Li3DO.jpg



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